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GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house

Posted June 15, 2009 11:52 AM

From Engadget:

Tired of blaming GPS on petty mishaps like the destruction of cars, a demolition crew in Georgia has managed to accidentally destroy an entirely wrong house based on GPS coordinates. Oddly enough, it wasn't even the first time they'd been by: the man who cuts the grass noticed that the power box was missing from the home and holes were punched into the walls about a month ago -- it was suspected as vandalism, but it now seems that the stealthy, directionless demolition company was to blame. The demolition company says it had "paperwork" authorizing the destruction, complete with the coordinates and a description of the home, which the owner's father had built with his own hands "brick by brick."

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Guru
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#1

Re: GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house

06/15/2009 5:44 PM

What ever happened to checking the letterbox for the house number.

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Guru

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#2

Re: GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house

06/15/2009 7:43 PM

GPS coordinates do not provide any legal description of real property. Only an idiot would do this.

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Guru
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house

06/15/2009 8:29 PM

As they say: Never argue with an idiot. First they drag you down to their level. Then they beat you up with experience.

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Anonymous Poster
#5
In reply to #3

Re: GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house

06/16/2009 12:03 AM

Or as my father used to warn me:

The only thing more futile than arguing with an idiot is thinking you can win the argument.

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Guru
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#4

Re: GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house

06/15/2009 11:48 PM

The problem with inventing an idiot-proof system is that everytime you succeed, along comes a bigger idiot .

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Anonymous Poster
#6

Re: GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house

06/16/2009 12:34 AM

Crackerhead

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Anonymous Poster
#7

Re: GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house

06/17/2009 5:22 PM

Homeowner needs a good Lawyer that can take demolition company's assets, and destroy company owners home and heirlooms, same treatment for idiot workers that located and destroyed the house, leave them all sitting on the curb looking at the rubble of what used to be theirs.

Destruction crew should be required to sort through rubble wherever it was disposed to recover any property recoverable, financial compensation not enough, courts can't/ won't award enough to compensate for loss of family treasures.

Demolition company/ idiot workers should be required to rebuild house unpaid,"Brick by Brick" themselves under supervision and to satisfaction of owner, and to search the world to find replacement for heirlooms, personal items whatever the cost.

Perhaps breaking a few arms, legs, fingers may send a message to determine right place before starting demolition.

What about culpability of municipal inspectors who approved the demolition permit, should be at site to verify correct site before allowing demolition to start, destroy their homes also!!

Must be some laws, (Gross negligence?) that can send these people to jail??

Good luck!

CEKM

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#8
In reply to #7

Re: GPS coordinates lead demolition crew to destroy wrong house

06/18/2009 6:06 PM

the lawyers are calling the homeowner

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